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University of Languages and International Studies Faculty of English Language Teacher Education

FAST - TRACK PROGRAM 2017-2018

UNIVERISTY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

WELCOME LETTER

OVERVIEW

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Dear K51 CLC students, Welcome on board the Fast-track ship that will sail you to success in education and in life. Being a newly recruited crew member, you are expected to join hands with us in every single day of the trip. Please be informed that the senior crew members will only be in charge of navigating the ship and providing you with essential training and tools. It will be your job to learn all about the weather and the sea, and how to sail the ship to the destination.

Following is an official introduction of our ship condition and itinerary: We have sixteen years in operation and have provided the fast track (a curriculum developed based on Social constructivism theory) for talented students to get to their BA destination so that they can travel efficiently with heavier loads of education luggage. The realisation of two prominent features of the fast track- teacher empowerment and learner autonomy- has helped produce a good number of highly qualified teachers and researchers in education as well as professionals in other fields.

Many generations of CLC alumni have become my dear colleagues at FELTE and ULIS, and have successfully sustained the CLC spirit in innovative education.

I hope our ship will take you there as well, or connecting you to further destinations.

Bon voyage!

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History The fast-track program (also known as CLC program) was established at University of Languages and International Studies, Faculty of English Language Teacher Education in 2001. Since the first years of planning and launching the program, the curricular designers have been looking for the effective, novel ways of teaching and learning in order to maximize students’ potential. At present, it maintains its position as the most innovative program of the faculty and sets out to further enhance its efficiency.

CLC Philosophy Social Contructivism Another philosophy adopted in CLC Program is Social Constructivism. This philosophy views learners’ development in current social context and emphasizes knowledge accumulation through interactions. In this sense, Social Constructivism aims to stimulate students to collaborate with each other to reach mutual goals. This will help them to better integrate themselves into wider social groups in the future by developing communication and cooperation skills.

As can be seen, these two CLC philosophies complement one another to serve one purpose – assist students’ development in both personal and social terms.

After studying in this Program, students are expected to become successful citizens to advance social progress.

Learner Autonomy This is the most essential philosophy of CLC Program, which encourages students to be actively responsible for their own learning rather than relying on lecturers.

Since the role of teachers are reduced to instructors, students have to be more proactive in studying. They should be able to set their own goals, formulate studying methods as well as assessing their progress with suggestions from teachers. Their greater role in learning will boost their independence and confidence in the long term.

As students are at liberty to learn, they are also expected to be accountable for their own decisions. They have to make sure that their progress is up to expectations. This philosophy, therefore, helps to enhance students’ sense of responsibility in their learning.

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Academics Seme Listening ster 1

News Sharing

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Reading

Role-play Informative speech Forum Persuasive speech

Reading Log News Bulletin

Documentary Project Reading journal News report Reading challenge

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Writing Speaking

Writing portfolio Stimulation Impromptu speaking

Scrapbook

Reading Journal Students will read certain types of text and briefly present in class with marginal notes.

Reading Challenge Students can showcase their most favorite books to their fellows and teachers.

Scrapbook Students will design their own scrapbooks and deliver critical comments to their chosen news articles.

Writing Portfolio Students are required to create collections of individual writing pieces.

Role-play Students will be assigned different themes that they are expected to portray in their speeches.

Persuasive Speech Students will devise a speech based on given themes and persuade the audience about a particular point/ topic.

Debate Students will discuss hot issues based on their given roles.

Debate

News Sharing Students will form pairs, present chosen videos and facilitate the discussions.

Documentary Project Students will make short documentary clips about interesting aspects of their life.

News Report Students will present their chosen news to their peers and be assessed accordingly.

Reading Log Students will collect reading materials and analyze the texts accordingly.

News Bulletin Each group of five students will start a new online thread, act as Moderators and facilitate the class’ academic discussions and heated debates.

Forum The Moderators will introduce their forum topic, assign roles to other groups and conduct the forum with their designed set of questions and follow-ups.

Impromptu Speaking Students are expected to give immediate response after they received the topic question.

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CURRI- CULUM

Activities CLC Day: CLC day is when students can relish their collective efforts by showcasing their dexterously crafted products and receiving awards. It marks the end of a semester of hard work and bespeaks the start of relaxation and socialization.

CLC Book Club Day: On CLC Book Club Day, students are expected to demonstrate their reading progress and present constructive arguments as well as in-depth analysis of their chosen books.

CLC Research Conference: CLC Research Conference presents a golden opportunity for students to introduce their research products in front of CLC students and teachers.

CAREER PROSPECTS

11 Given the essential hard and soft skills as well as practical experience, graduates are also able to work in several other fields apart from education. Some of the excellent alumni include:

After graduation, bachelors from the Fast Track Program can take up positions such as teachers and teaching staff at English teaching institutions, both domestic and international. In particular, they are capable of working as lecturers at universities, colleges majoring in English or teachers at high schools, especially those incorporating English specialized classes. Furthermore, graduates from this program can become academic researchers in foreign languages, linguistics or international studies.

Ms. Vo Thi Bao Ngoc (K35 CLC), University of Missouri educational consultant, recipient of the Inspiring 2017 Brightspace Award Ms. Vu Le Mai (K36 CLC), UNDOC officer Ms. Han Thi Thanh Xuan (K36 CLC), National Bank officer Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phuong (K36 CLC), CLC Sophomore’s coordinator, Faculty of English Language Teacher Education, ULIS VNU Mr. Vu Hai Ha (K37 CLC), Dean of Faculty of English Language Teacher Education, ULIS VNU Ms. Phung Trang Nhung (K37 CLC), Facebook employee Ms. Vu Thi Phuong Thao (K38 CLC), Monash University lecturer Ms. Truong Hai Ha (K41 CLC), Tradesy Inc. San Francisco marketer Ms. Nguyen Vu Xuan Lan (K41 CLC), freelancer, creative illustrator Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung (K43 CLC), CLC Freshmen’s coordinator, Faculty of English Language Teacher Education, ULIS VNU Mr. Tran Quoc Trung (K43 CLC), Summit Education Services course instructor

FINANCE & FACILITIES Students in the fast-track program are entitled to numerous financial incentives, namely tuition fees, grants and scholarship every semester.

Rank Rank A Rank B Rank C

While the fast-track program for pedagogy offers a tuition-free education, CLC students for linguistics still have to pay tuition fees like mainstream students.

CLC students receive monthly grants ranked A, B and C based on their academic performances.

Every semester, CLC students receive scholarship ranked A, B and C based on their academic performances (no subjects below B), no discipline employed and regular extracurricular involvement.

Requirement for academic extracurricular achievement Excellent Very Good Good

and

Amount of grant tuition fee increase of 20% compared to type “good” award increase of 40% compared to type “good” award

Facilities

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CLC students of of first and second year are given the privilege to study at Faculty of French Language and Culture - extremely spacious with picturesque scenery.

Additionally, the tables and chairs are seemingly more expensive with greyish color instead of wooden brown-looking ones in the mainstream classes.

A TV plus a projector as visual aids instead of the screening as in typical classrooms in other buildings and students possess their own air-conditioner.

HUMANS OF CLC Ho Tuong Thanh 16E1

Vu Phuong Anh 16E2

Le Dieu Linh 16E22

Choosing to be a part of the Fast-track program was my wisest decision last year. I absolutely adore it because of its curriculum and the dynamic environment. Regarding the curriculum, despite the unimaginable stress and pressure, we are provided not only with a wealth of knowledge and skills but also training of manners and attitudes. We are constantly pushed outside our comfort zone, which helps to make us strive for the best. I also need to thank the CLC program for giving me a chance to be a part of such a vibrant and vigorous community. The teachers are incredibly attentive and passionate about teaching why my friends are all talented and distinct in their own ways.

My friends in CLC are literally the most beautiful things. When tons of deadlines approach, we know we are all in this together.

Just a simple saying like "I'm experiencing the same thing" can immediately lift my mood.

The bond among Fast-trackers is undoubtedly, priceless.

Hence, even though we have to constantly work against the clock, we still go strong since we have our friends by our side.

CLC is an amazing yet challenging place. However, that is what toughens me and helps me learn a lot. Thanks to my inspiring teachers and outstanding peers, I have acquired a vast amount knowledge and matured every day. It is my luck to have friends who are not only competent, responsible and co-operative but also friendly and caring , which makes my experience in CLC memorable than ever.

Ng. Vu Quoc Duy 16E2

Ng. Phuong Lien 15E2

I think overall CLC is a very friendly environment, I have a few close friends here and they are all such a fun, and some teachers are adorable

CLC treated me so well. Good friends and attentive teachers always got my back, which is my motivation to keep striving despite the challenging assignments.

Since the establishment of the BA Honors Program in 2001 until now, there has been 36 lecturers who directly teach in the program for the subjects regarding English language. The teaching staff include 7 Ph.Ds, 23 M.As and 20 of them are BA Honors alumni.

The current number of lecturers in the BA Honors Program is 14 including 3 Ph.Ds, 1 Ph.D candidate, 3 M.As, 3 M.A candidates. Among them are 10 BA Honors alumni.

OUTSTANDING MEMBERS OF

BA HONORS PROGRAM TEACHING STAFF.

Ng. Thu Le Hang 16E1 I always treasure the opportunity to work in an environment as the CLC program, where I can design and implement creative ideas in teaching, where I can try my ideas with groups of homogenious proficiency level and full of surprising talents. I only give a little push, and my students will do the rest to get there. I am often in awe of the show-cases of their assignments. Thank you my dear students for your hard-working to give me enjoyable moments in class.”

Quote: “I never teach my pupils, I only provide conditions in which they can learn” and “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” and many other quotes by Albert Einstein

Ms. Ngo Ha Thu 16E1 “I have been always appreciating what the CLC programme brought me as a student: inspiring teachers and sincere friends. What's more, through learning activities which were high-demanding and involved a lot of group work, the programme has developed in me a strong sense of freedom, independence and humility, which is priceless for me.

As a teacher, I am in awe of how dynamic and skillful the young generations of CLC are, and teaching CLC students is thereby getting more and more challenging. One thing having concerning me since I was a student majoring Translation and Interpreting is CLC programme so far has more or less ELT-centric while the translation-majored student population is growing. This somehow explains why CLC translation-majored students sometimes are not well aware of their professional develop ment pathway. The gap in teaching and learning activities between the two groups is still visible and needs bridging. There are some progress now, but still a lot needs to be done.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhung 16E1

Quote: "Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school." (Albert Einstein)

“It’s been 5 years since my graduation and the more hands-on experiences I get, the more I realize how grateful I am to the fast-track program. I started my studying here since year 2. What I like most about this program is individual empowerment which helps not only teachers but also students to unleash their full potential. Three years of being a CLCer magically transformed me from a shy little girl to a totally different person who is much more confident (mostly thanks to all the heavy workload and dearest deadlines, I mean :D). And more importantly, this is the place that has nurtured my passion for the job I am now doing.

To me, coming back to the fast-track program in the role of a teacher is just like coming home with my beloved colleagues and cuties. To tell the truth, I find myself under a lot of pressure as students are getting more and more talented and demanding, which, in turn, acts as a propeller to constantly keep myself moving forward. At the end of the day, I can say that I am happy about being able to do what I love, love what I do and about being responsible for what I have chosen.

One more thing, sophomores, remember to work hard and play harder since you won't know how much you will miss those beautiful days of your students' life later. I always smile my widest smiles when seeing you, 16E1 having fun together in every “Thứ hai mặc gì” group photo session ^^” Quote: “Teaching is a work of heart.” (Unknown)